Battle of Bundelkhand

Battle of Jaitpur
Part of Imperial Maratha Conquests
Date March 1729 Location Jaitpur Result Maratha-Bundela rajput alliance Victory. Maratha-Bundela alliance under the leadership of Peshwa Bajirao defeat the Mughal Empire. The twin victories over Giridhar Bahadur and Bangash stamped Bajirao’s authority over north India. Chhatrasal Bundela gave one third of his kingdom to Bajirao. Thus, Maratha rule started in Jhansi, Sagar, Banda, etc. Marathas got a launch pad to push further north and consolidate the Malwa region. Marathas became major players in the all-important Ganga Yamuna doab region. Chhatrasal Bundela gave Bajirao his daughter – Mastani.
Belligerents
Maratha Empire Kingdom of Bundelkhand	Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Bajirao I Pilaji Jadhav Tukoji Pawar Naro Shankar Davalji Somwanshi Chhatrasal Hirde Shah Jagat Rai Bharti Chand	Muhammad Khan Bangash Qaim Khan Bangash
Strength
25,000 Marathas 45,000 Bundelas	120,000 Mughal Horseman

The Battle of Jaitpur was fought between the Maratha Empire under Peshwa Baji Rao I, on behalf of Chhatrasal Bundela, the ruler of Bundelkhand and Mughal empire under of Muhammad Khan Bangash in March 1729. Bangash attacked the state of Bundelkhand in December 1728. Being too old to fight, as well as heavily outnumbered, Raja Chhatrasal appealed Baji Rao for assistance- under whose leadership the Maratha-Bundela alliance defeated Bangash at Jaitpur.

Background[]

In Bundelkhand, Chhatrasal had rebelled against the Mughal Empire and established an independent kingdom. In December 1728, a Mughal force led by Muhammad Khan Bangash attacked him and besieged his fort and family. Although Chhatrasal repeatedly sought Baji Rao's assistance, he was busy in Malwa at the time. He compared his dire situation to that of Gajendra Moksha. In his letter to Baji Rao, Chhatrasal wrote the following words:

Know you, that I am in the same sad plight in which the famous elephant was when caught by the crocodile. My valiant race is on point of extinction. Come and save my honour, O Baji Rao.^[1]

Battle[]

In March 1729, the Peshwa responded to Chhatrasal's request and marched towards Bundelkhand with 25,000 horsemen and his lieutenants Pilaji Jadhav, Tukoji Pawar, Naro Shankar, and Davalji Somwanshi. Chhatrasal escaped capture and joined the Maratha force, increasing it to 70,000 men.^[2] After marching to Jaitpur, Baji Rao's forces surrounded Bangash and cut his supply and communication lines. Bangash launched a counterattack against Baji Rao, but could not pierce his defences. Qaim Khan, son of Muhammad Khan Bangash, learned of his father's predicament and approached with fresh troops. His army was attacked by Baji Rao's forces, and he was defeated. Bangash was later forced to leave, signing an agreement that "he would never attack Bundelkhand again".^{[2] [3]}

Aftermath[]

Chhatrasal's position as ruler of Bundelkhand was restored. He granted a large jagir to Baji Rao, and gave him his daughter from a concubine named Ruhani Bai, Mastani. Before Chhatrasal's death in December 1731, he ceded one-third of his territories to the Marathas.^[3]

References[]